Steam-blower.



H L. ERLEWINE.

STEAM BLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY3.1915.

At orneys Patented Ma 2, 1916.

HENRY L. ERLEWINE, OF MARION, INDIANA.

STEAM-BLOWER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed May 3, 1915. Serial No. 25,537.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. ERLEWINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Steam-Blower, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a steam blower, and aims to provide a novel and improved appliance whereby a small'supply or quantity of steam created by a steam boiler, may be utilized for creating a voluminous and effective draft for the furnace, whereby cheaper grades of coal may be consumed, without the liability of the formation of clinkers as usual.

The present appliance enables a cheap grade of coal or fuel to be used, which is desirable in that it provides an appreciable saving in the cost of fuel, and the appliance is also useful in connection with boilers which are too small, since the appliance will greatly increase the capacity of the same. 1

A salient feature of the invention resides in the fact that a small quantity of steam is discharged with a comparatively high velocity into a blast tube, so that the steam completely fills the tube, and draws air into said tube, whereby the cool air in encountering the steam will cause the steam to be condensed, and this will tend to create a vacuum, whereby the fresh air will be drawn into the blast tube in a comparatively large volume. The blast tube is connected in any suitable manner to the furnace to supply air thereinto, for enabling the air to properly flow through the coals, according to the particular type of boiler with which the appliance is used.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide an appliance of the nature indicated which is comparatively simple, inexpensive and compact in construction, which may be readily installed in various steam boilers, and which is thoroughly practical, serviceable and efiicient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de* scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of a boiler illustrating the improved appliance assembled therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of the appliance. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention, there is employed a blast tube 1 which has one end connected in any suitable manner to the furnace whereby the air is discharged properly into the furnace to flow through the coals in the most effective manner for increasing the consumption of coal. A steam supply pipe 2 has one end connected in any suitable manner to the boiler, whereby steam is taken from the boiler by the pipe 2. The outer or free end of the pipe 2 is in alinement with and projects toward and adjacent the free or outer end of the blast tube 1, the blast tube 1 being of relatively large diameter.

A flared tapered bell 3 has its smaller end attached to the free end of the blast tube 1, by means of a union coupling 4;, and a tapered nozzle 5 projects concentrically into the bell 3. The nozzle 5 is practically of the same shape as the hell 3, but is of smaller size, and the smaller end of the nozzle 5 is disposed between the ends of the bell, while the larger end of the nozzle 5 projects from the larger end of the bell 3, whereby the annular air receiving space between the bell 3 and nozzle 5 decreases in width from the larger end or rim of the bell 3 to the smaller or free end of the nozzle 5. The hell 3 and nozzle 5 both decrease in diameter from their larger or receiving ends, to their smaller ends, and in approximately the same proportions.

The nozzle 5 is carried by the hell 8, and to this end, the nozzle 5- has a radially projecting lug or ear 6 adjacent its larger end, which overlaps and is bolted or otherwise attached to an inwardly projecting lug or car 7 with which the rim of the bell 3 is provided. The nozzle 5 is thus held within the mouth of the bell 3 suitably spaced from the walls of the bell. The larger end of the nozzle 5 has an inturned annular flange 8, upon which a plate or disk 9 is bolted or otherwise secured, and, the free end of the pipe 2 passes through the plate 9 and projects slightly into the larger end of the nozzle 5.

A. steam nozzle 10 is disposed within the larger end portion of the, nozzle 5,. and is attached to the respective end of the pipe 2. Thisnozzle 10 is of such construction, that it discharges a plurality of jets of steam through the smaller end of the nozzle 5, whereby said jets of steam in passing into the blast tube 1 will fill the blast tube. This nozzle 10 embodies two sections or parts,on"e section or partbeing in the form of a frustoconical cap 11 having an internally threaded collar 11 at its apical portion or smaller end which is threaded upon the end of the pipe 2, so as to bearagainst the plate 9. The nozzle 10 is thus supported by the pipe 2 concentrically within the nozzle 5. The other part or section of the nozzle 10 is in the form of a stepped member 12 having its rim threaded upon the rim or larger end of the cap 11, whereby the two parts or sections of the nozzle 10 cooperate to provide a steam chamber therein. The member. or section 12 has a primary reduced portion 13 intermediate the rim and free end of the member 12, and the member 12 has a secondary reduced portion 14: beyond the reduced portion 13 or at the free end of the said member 12. The member 12 as well as the capv 11 are preferably of circular contour, and the reduced portions 18 and 14 are alsopreferably of similar outline. The reduced portions 13 and. 14 provide the shoulders or ledges 15 and 16, respectively, each of which is provided with an annular series of apertures 17.

Jet elements 18 are engaged downwardly or outwardly through the aperture 17 and are provided with heads or enlargements 19 within the chamber of the nozzle 10, seating against the respective shoulders 15 and. 16. The jet elements 18 are provided with passages or. ducts 20 which are funnel-shaped, or which are of relatively large diameter at theirreceiving or. inner ends, while the outer or discharge ends-of said ducts are of relatively small diameter. This is of ad vantage for the reasons which will hereinafter appear.

The pipe 2 is preferably provided with manually operable controlling valves 21 adjacent it sends, whereby the flow of steam may be controlled manually, and it is also desirable to interpose a regulator valve 22 in the pipe 2, whereby when the steam pressure is below a predetermined number of pounds, the valve 22 is opened, Whereas whenthe steam pressure reaches a predetermined degree, the valve 22 isclosed to check the flow through the pipe 2. The pipe 2 may also have a suitable strainer 23 therein, if desired.

n p r t s pp i s am tab sue plied to the steam nozzle 10 from the pipe 2, the steam chamber-*within the nozzle 10 will be filled with steam, and the steam will find its way through the jet elements 18. Since the ducts '20, of the elements 18 decrease in diameter from the receiving to the outlet ends of said ducts, the steam will be given an accelerating velocity in passing through the elements 18, and the jets in leaving the elements 18 will have a relatively high velocity. Since the jets 18 are arranged in inner and outer annular series, the jets will be distributed properly within the nozzle 5, whereby the steam will leave the nozzle 5 in a comparatively large stream, it also being noted that the nozzle 5 in having its discharge end reduced, will further increase the velocity of the steam. The stream of steam is discharged by the nozzle 5 axially into the blast tube 1, and the stream of steam completely fills the blast tube 1, and also draws air into the bell 3. The air in encountering the steam within the blast tube 1, will condense the steam, and this will tend to create a vacuum, resulting in more air being drawn into the blast tube, and due to the fact that the steam is continually forced with a high velocity into the blast tube, the air is delivered in a comparatively large volume into the furnace and through the coals.

The cardinal advantage of the present apblast. tube to be completely filled with steam moving at a comparatively high, velocity, whereby the condensing of the steam by the cold air will tend to create a vacuum. This produces a maximum blast of fresh air through the blast tube into the furnace, with a minimum steam consumption. The air in being forced into the ash pit from the blast tube will naturally bring the air under pressure within the ash pit, to force the air readily through thecoals, and this will relieve the smoke stack of a great deal of its duty, since the air is forced instead of drawn through the coals. The moisture in the air due to the condensing of the steam also serves to keep any clinkers soft and porous,

properly enter the bed of steam will be most effectively discharged into the blast tube, and the ducts being of the shape specified, will cause the steam to leave the jet elements 18 at a relatively high velocity for the reasons given, and for the further reason that any lime or particles that might precipitate when the steam expands within the nozzle 10, will be carried out through the said elements with the steam. This prevents the particles or extraneous matter from collecting within the jet elements 18, which would be liable to result in the clogging up of the jet elements.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A steam blower embodying a blast tube, a flared air receiving bell carried by the receiving end of said tube, a tapered nozzle having its smaller end projecting into the I hell, said nozzle being carried by the bell, a

plate attached to the larger end of said nozzle, a steam pipe extending through said plate and projecting into said nozzle, and a steam nozzle disposed within the first mentioned nozzle, the steam nozzle comprising a cap attached to said pipe and a stepped member detachably engaged to said cap, there being a steam chamber between the cap and stepped member, and the stepped member having shoulders each provided with a series of apertures, and jet elements. engaged outwardly through said apertures and having heads within said chamber seating against said shoulders, the jet elements having ducts which are of relatively large diameter at their receiving ends and which de crease in diameter to their other ends, the

till;

jet elements being arranged to discharge jets of steam at a comparatively high velocity through the first mentioned nozzle in such a manner, whereby the steam leaves the first mentioned nozzle in a stream which enters and fills the blast tube.

2. A steam blower embodying a blast tube, a flared air receiving bell carried by the receiving end of said tube a tapered nozzle having its smaller end projecting into .the bell. said nozzle being carried by the bell, a plate attached to the larger end of said nozzle, a steam pipe extending through said plate and projecting into said nozzle, a steam nozzle disposed within the first mentioned nozzle, the steam nozzle comprising a cap attached to said pipe and a stepped member detachably engaged to said cap, there being a steam chamber between the cap and stepped member, the shoulders of the stepped member having series of jet portions having ducts which are of relatively large diameter at their receiving ends and which decrease in diameter to their other ends, the ducts being arranged to discharge the jets of steam at comparatively high velocity through the firstmentioned nozzle in such a manner, whereby the steam leaves the first mentioned nozzle in a stream which enters and fills the blast tube.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY L. ERLEWINE.

Witnesses CLARA C. DEYERING, E. F. FERREE.

flopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

